JP7072231B2 - Communication devices, communication systems, communication methods, and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication system, a communication method, and a program for performing wireless communication.

Conventionally, there is a communication system in which a master unit such as an access point and a communication device such as a plurality of slave units communicating with the master unit are connected to a wireless network (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a first communication means that communicates with an access point based on a first communication protocol, and a second communication device that communicates with another communication device based on a second communication protocol. It is equipped with a communication means. The first communication means performs wireless communication based on, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and the second communication means performs wireless communication based on, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark).

JP-A-2018-191256

However, in a communication system in which a plurality of communication devices described in Patent Document 1 are installed and the plurality of communication devices communicate wirelessly with each other, packet collision may occur at the time of transmission, and the communication system may break down. Specifically, in the case of the communication system, in wireless communication performed based on a wireless LAN, collisions between packets can be avoided by a mechanism such as a CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collection Avoidance) method.

On the other hand, in wireless communication based on Bluetooth, there is no such mechanism, and a packet is transmitted at a timing to be transmitted by the own device, and other communication devices have no way of knowing that the packet has been transmitted from the own device. As described above, in a communication system in which wireless LAN and wireless communication based on Bluetooth are used together, a mechanism for avoiding packets is required for both of them.

The present invention provides a communication device and the like capable of suppressing packet collision in wireless communication based on Bluetooth in such a communication system.

The communication device according to one aspect of the present invention is one of the plurality of communication devices in a system including a master unit and a plurality of communication devices each functioning as a slave unit that communicates with the master unit. Therefore, a first communication unit for wireless communication with the master unit, a second communication unit for wireless communication with another communication device based on Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the first communication unit from the other communication device. 2 A calculation unit that calculates the transmission timing at which the own device transmits a packet based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received when the packet containing the first data is received via the communication unit, and the above. It includes a control unit that transmits a packet containing the first data and the second data via the first communication unit at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit.

According to this aspect, the transmission timing, which is the timing at which the own device transmits the packet, is calculated and transmitted from the time when the packet based on Bluetooth transmitted by another communication device is received. Therefore, for example, by setting the transmission timings calculated by the plurality of communication devices to be different, each of the plurality of communication devices transmits packets at different transmission timings. Thereby, according to this aspect, the collision of packets can be suppressed in the wireless communication based on Bluetooth. For example, according to this aspect, when a master unit and each of a plurality of communication devices transmit a packet in wireless communication based on Bluetooth, it is possible to suppress a packet collision.

Further, for example, the control unit further transmits a packet containing the second data via the second communication unit at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit.

According to this aspect, when each of the plurality of communication devices transmits a packet by wireless communication based on Bluetooth, the collision of the packet can be suppressed.

Further, for example, the communication device further includes a storage unit for storing time information indicating a time for permitting transmission of the packet, and the calculation unit includes a time when the packet including the first data is received and the time information. The transmission timing is calculated based on the above, and the control unit sends a packet containing the first data and the second data within the time indicated by the time information from the transmission timing via the first communication unit. The packet to be transmitted and containing the second data is transmitted via the second communication unit.

According to this aspect, it can be reflected in the transmission timing for calculating the time related to the communication of each of the plurality of communication devices. Therefore, the calculation unit can more accurately calculate the transmission timing for avoiding packet collision.

Further, for example, the storage unit further stores order information indicating the order in which the plurality of communication devices transmit packets, and the calculation unit further stores the time when the packet including the first data is received and the time information. , And the transmission timing is calculated based on the order information.

According to this aspect, it can be reflected in the transmission timing for calculating the time for each of the plurality of communication devices to transmit the packet. Therefore, the calculation unit can more accurately calculate the transmission timing for avoiding packet collision.

Further, the communication system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of the above communication devices.

According to this aspect, the transmission timing at which the own device transmits the packet is calculated and transmitted from the time when the packet based on Bluetooth transmitted by another communication device is received. Therefore, for example, by setting the transmission timings calculated by the plurality of communication devices to be different, each of the plurality of communication devices transmits packets at different transmission timings. Thereby, according to this aspect, the collision of packets can be suppressed in the wireless communication based on Bluetooth.

Further, the communication method according to one aspect of the present invention is communication of one of the plurality of communication devices in a system including a master unit and a plurality of communication devices each functioning as a slave unit for communicating with the master unit. A communication method executed by the device, the receiving step of receiving a packet containing the first data from another communication device based on Bluetooth®, and the receiving step of receiving the packet containing the first data. At the calculation step of calculating the transmission timing at which the own device transmits a packet based on the time and the transmission timing calculated in the calculation step, the packet containing the first data and the second data is wirelessly transmitted to the master unit. Includes a send step to send to.

According to this aspect, the transmission timing for transmitting the packet is calculated from the time when the packet based on Bluetooth is received and transmitted. Therefore, for example, by setting the transmission timings calculated by the plurality of communication devices each executing the present embodiment to be different, each of the plurality of communication devices transmits packets at different transmission timings. Thereby, according to this aspect, the collision of packets can be suppressed in the wireless communication based on Bluetooth. For example, according to this aspect, when a master unit and each of a plurality of communication devices each executing the communication method according to this aspect transmit and receive packets in wireless communication based on Bluetooth, packet collision can be suppressed.

The present invention may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute the steps included in the above communication method. Further, the present invention may be realized as a recording medium such as a CD-ROM that can be read by a computer that records the program. Further, the present invention may be realized as information, data or a signal indicating the program. The programs, information, data and signals may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

According to the communication device or the like according to one aspect of the present invention, the access point can surely acquire the data from the second station.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of a communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a characteristic functional configuration of the communication device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of order information. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for transmitting data by the communication device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a first example of a processing procedure of each device included in the communication system according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a second example of the processing procedure of each device included in the communication system according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that all of the embodiments described below show comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, steps, the order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Further, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims are described as arbitrary components.

(Embodiment)
[Constitution]
<Overview>
First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a communication device according to an embodiment and a communication system including a plurality of the communication devices will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of the communication system 500 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a characteristic functional configuration of the communication device 100 according to the embodiment.

In the following description, when the slave units 101 to 104 are not particularly distinguished, the slave units 101 to 104 may be generalized and referred to as the slave unit 100.

Further, in the following description, when the sensors 401 to 404 are not particularly distinguished, the sensors 401 to 404 may be generalized and described as the sensor 400.

The communication system 500 is, for example, a master unit 200 capable of wirelessly communicating data detected by a plurality of sensors 400 with a plurality of slave units (communication devices) 100 connected to each of the plurality of sensors 400 and each of the plurality of slave units 100. It is a system that collects data in the terminal device 300 via the above.

In the present embodiment, the communication system 500 includes a plurality of slave units 100, a master unit 200, a terminal device 300, and a plurality of sensors 400.

In the present embodiment, the communication system 500 communicates with four slave units 100, four sensors 400 connected to the four slave units 100 so as to be able to communicate with each other, and four slave units 100. It includes one master unit 200 that is connectable to the master unit 200, and a terminal device 300 that is communicably connected to the master unit 200. The number of slave units 100 and sensors 400 included in the communication system 500 is not particularly limited. The communication system 500 may include N (N is an integer of 2 or more) slave units 100 and N sensors 400 connected to each of the N slave units 100 so as to be able to communicate with each other. ..

The slave unit 100 is a plurality of communication devices that communicate with the sensor 400 and the master unit 200 in the communication system 500. Specifically, the slave unit 100 acquires the data (sensor data) detected by the sensor 400 and transmits it to the master unit 200 by wireless communication. The slave unit 100 functions as a repeater for transmitting the sensor data detected by the sensor 400 to the master unit 200.

The master unit 200 is a communication device that is connected to a plurality of slave units 100 in a wireless communication manner and is also connected to a terminal device 300 in a communicable manner. The master unit 200 is, for example, an access point. The master unit 200 may be connected to the terminal device 300 so as to be capable of wireless communication, or may be connected so as to be capable of wire communication.

The terminal device 300 is a device that collects sensor data indicating the temperature detected by the plurality of sensors 400. The terminal device 300 is, for example, a personal computer, a computer such as a server device, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like.

The sensor 400 is a sensor capable of detecting arbitrary information. The sensor 400 is, for example, a sensor installed in an industrial device and detecting an operating state (temperature, coordinate position information of moving parts, etc.) of the industrial device, and in the present embodiment, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature. And. For example, the sensor 400 transmits sensor data (temperature data) indicating the detected temperature to the slave unit 100 communicably connected to the sensor 400. The slave unit 100 acquires the sensor data, which is the temperature data, by receiving the temperature data transmitted by the sensor 400. For example, the sensor 400 detects the temperature at a predetermined time and transmits the sensor data indicating the detected temperature to the slave unit 100.

Further, the slave unit 100 transmits the sensor data acquired from the sensor 400 to the other slave unit 105 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The other handset 105 is, for example, the handset 102 to 104 when the handset 101 shown in FIG. 1 is the communication device 100 in FIG.

Here, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication performed between each of the slave units 100 and each of the other slave units 105 is performed by, for example, advertisement communication compliant with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). More specifically, each of the slave units 100 stores the data acquired from each of the sensors 400 in an advertising packet which is a communication packet of BLE, and transmits / receives the data to / from the other slave units 105. The advertised communication is carried out by a broadcast method.

Further, when the slave unit 100 receives a packet including sensor data (hereinafter referred to as first data) transmitted from another slave unit 105, the slave unit 100 acquires sensor data (hereinafter referred to as “first data”) from a sensor 400 connected to its own device. A packet containing the first data included in the packet received from the other slave unit 105 (referred to as the second data) is transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication. More specifically, the slave unit 100 has the second data which is the sensor data acquired from the sensor 400 connected to the own device and the first data which is the sensor data included in the packet received from the other slave unit 105. Is associated with information that can identify the slave unit connected to the sensor 400 that has detected each sensor data (for example, identifier information 163 described later, MAC (Media Access Control) address, etc.), and is associated with the information. These sensor data are transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication.

For example, the slave unit 101 transmits a packet including the second data, which is the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401, to the master unit 200 by wireless communication, and a packet including the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401. It is assumed that the data is transmitted to the slave units 102 to 104 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth. In this case, when the slave unit 102 receives the packet including the first data which is the first sensor data transmitted from the slave unit 101, the first data (the first sensor data acquired by the slave unit 101 from the sensor 401). ) And the transmission timing, which is the time to transmit the packet including the second data (second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402), and transmit the packet at the calculated transmission timing. Specifically, the slave unit 102 calculates the transmission timing for transmitting the packet based on the time when the packet including the first data, which is the first sensor data transmitted by the slave unit 101, is received, and the calculated transmission timing. Then, a packet containing the first data and the second data is transmitted to the master unit 200.

Further, the slave unit 100 transmits a packet containing the second data to the other slave unit 105 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth at the calculated transmission timing. (In the above example, the handset 102 uses the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 as the second data, and transmits a packet containing the second sensor data to the other handset 105.) Specifically, a plurality of handset units. 100 calculates the transmission timing so that the transmission timing, which is the timing at which the packet is transmitted, is different from each other.

As described above, the plurality of slave units 100 included in the communication system 500 have the sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 400 connected to the own device and the sensor data (first data) acquired from the other slave units 105, respectively. ) Is transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication (for example, wireless communication based on wireless LAN), and only the sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 400 connected to the own device is transmitted by wireless communication based on Bluetooth. It is transmitted to the slave unit 105. Further, in the wireless communication based on Bluetooth of the slave unit 100, packets are transmitted at different transmission timings from each other.

Here, in the present embodiment, as described above, the timing at which the slave unit 100 transmits the packet containing the first data and the second data to the master unit 200 is the time when the slave unit 100 receives the packet containing the first data. The transmission timing is calculated based on the above, but the transmission timing conforms to the communication standard based on IEEE802.11, which is wireless communication between the slave unit 100 and the master unit 200 (for example, wireless communication based on wireless LAN). It may be the transmission timing. That is, the timing at which each of the slave units 100 transmits the packet containing the first data to the other slave unit 105 and the timing at which each of the slave units 100 transmits the packet containing the first data and the second data to the master unit 200 are set. It may be different.

In the wireless communication based on Bluetooth of the slave unit 100 that transmits the packet first among the plurality of slave units 100, it is not necessary to calculate the transmission timing.

For example, when the slave unit 101 shown in FIG. 1 transmits the packet first and the slave units 102, 103, 104 transmit the packet in order from the second onward, the slave unit 101 (first communication device) transmits the transmission timing. The packet containing the second data is transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication at a predetermined transmission timing without calculating, and the packet containing the second data is transmitted to the slave units 102, 103 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth. 104 (second communication device) Transmit.

<Slave unit>
Subsequently, the details of the configuration of the slave unit 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slave unit 100 includes a first communication unit 110, a second communication unit 120, a calculation unit 130, a control unit 140, an acquisition unit 150, and a storage unit 160.

The first communication unit 110 is a communication interface having a wireless adapter or the like for wireless communication with the master unit 200. The first communication unit 110, for example, is controlled by the control unit 140 to transmit the sensor data acquired from the sensor 400 to the master unit 200.

The communication standard adopted for wireless communication by the first communication unit 110 is not particularly limited. Communication standards adopted for wireless communication by the first communication unit 110 are generally widely used, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth, BLE, ANT (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark) and the like. It may be a communication standard or an original communication standard. In the present embodiment, the first communication unit 110 will be described as performing wireless communication based on IEEE802.11 (that is, a communication standard based on IEEE802.11).

The second communication unit 120 is a communication interface having a wireless adapter or the like for wireless communication with another slave unit 105 in a communication standard based on Bluetooth. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the second communication unit 120 will be described as using BLE for wireless communication based on Bluetooth.

When the calculation unit 130 receives a packet containing the sensor data (first data) from the other slave unit 105 via the second communication unit 120, the calculation unit 130 is based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received. It is a processing unit that calculates the transmission timing for transmitting a packet.

The control unit 140 transmits a packet including the first data and the sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 400 to the master unit 200 via the first communication unit 110 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130. It is a processing unit.

Further, the control unit 140 further transmits a packet including the second data acquired from the sensor 400 via the second communication unit 120 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130. That is, the control unit 140 transmits the packet including the second data acquired from the sensor 400 to the other slave unit 105 according to the communication standard based on Bluetooth.

As described above, the control unit 140 transmits a packet to the master unit 200 via the first communication unit 110 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130, and wireless communication based on Bluetooth via the second communication unit 120. Sends a packet to another slave unit 105.

The slave unit 100 may be provided with a time measuring unit such as an RTC (Real Time Clock) for measuring the time.

The acquisition unit 150 is a processing unit for acquiring sensor data detected by the sensor 400 connected to the own device. Specifically, the acquisition unit 150 has a communication interface (for example, a serial interface) and is communicably connected to the sensor 400 via the communication interface. The acquisition unit 150 acquires the second data, which is the sensor data, from the sensor 400 via the communication interface. The acquisition unit 150 may be communicably connected to the sensor 400 by a communication line, or may be connected to the sensor 400 by wireless communication.

Each processing unit included in the slave unit 100 such as the calculation unit 130, the control unit 140, and the acquisition unit 150 includes, for example, a control program stored in the storage unit 160 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes the control program. ), And it is realized by.

Further, for example, the calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing based on the time and time information 161 when the packet containing the first data is received. Further, in this case, for example, the control unit 140 transmits a packet containing the first data and the second data within the time Tadb (shown in FIG. 3) indicated by the time information 161 via the first communication unit 110. In addition, the packet containing the second data is transmitted via the second communication unit 120. For example, the time information 161 is stored in the storage unit 160.

The storage unit 160 is a storage device that stores time information 161.

The time information 161 is information indicating the time Tadv (shown in FIG. 3) at which the transmission of the packet is permitted. When the slave unit 100 transmits a packet containing the second data to the master unit 200 and the other slave units 105, the time Tadb (time Tadv) indicated by the time information 161 from the transmission timing in each slave unit 101 to 104 (shown in FIG. 1). The packet is transmitted only during (shown in FIG. 3), and the packet is not transmitted at other times.

The time Tadb (shown in FIG. 3) indicated by the time information 161 may be arbitrarily determined in advance and is not particularly limited. The time Tadv (shown in FIG. 3) is, for example, 150 msec. It is stipulated.

Further, the storage unit 160 stores, for example, a control program executed by each processing unit included in the slave unit 100 such as the calculation unit 130, the control unit 140, and the acquisition unit 150.

The storage unit 160 is realized by, for example, a ROM (ReadOnly Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like.

Further, for example, the calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received, the time information 161 and the order information 162. The order information 162 is data indicating the order in which the plurality of slave units 100 transmit packets. For example, the storage unit 160 further stores order information 162 indicating the order in which the plurality of slave units 100 transmit packets.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the order information 162.

As shown in FIG. 3, the order information 162 stores an identifier for identifying a plurality of slave units 100 and information indicating an order in which the slave units 100 indicated by the respective identifiers may transmit packets. ing. In FIG. 3, each of the four slave units 100 is assigned different identifiers from 1 to 4, and the order in which the slave units 100 transmit packets is assigned in the order of 1 to 4. The case where it is is illustrated.

The storage unit 160 stores in advance identifier information 163 indicating an identifier of the own device and another slave unit 105. The calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received, the time information 161 and the order information 162.

For example, the control unit 140 included in the slave unit 100 having the identifier 1 indicated by the identifier information 163 transmits a packet between an arbitrary transmission timing (time t0) and a time t1 indicated by the time information 161 (during time Tadb). do.

As described above, for example, the calculation unit 130 does not calculate the transmission timing when the order of transmitting the packet is the first among the plurality of slave units 100 indicated by the order information 162. In this case, the control unit 140 transmits a packet containing the first data at a predetermined transmission timing.

Therefore, the slave unit whose order of transmitting packets is the first among the plurality of slave units 100 indicated by the order information 162 does not have to have the calculation unit 130. That is, in the slave unit in which the packet is transmitted first, no data (first data) is transmitted from the other slave unit 105, and the packet collides between the own device and the other slave unit 105. This is because the transmission can be performed at the transmission timing of the own device.

Of course, when the slave unit 100 that transmits the packet first among the plurality of slave units 100 further transmits the packet after the second time, it is based on the time when the packet transmitted by the other slave unit 105 is received. The transmission timing may be calculated.

Returning to the description of FIG. 3, for example, it is assumed that the control unit 140 included in the slave unit 100 having the identifier 1 transmits a packet at time t0.

In response to this, the slave unit 100 having an identifier of 2 receives a packet containing the first data from the slave unit having an identifier of 1 (another slave unit 105) via the second communication unit 120 at time t0. In this case, the calculation unit 130 included in the slave unit 100 having the identifier 2 calculates the time t1 after the time Tadv from the time t0 as the transmission timing.

For example, the packet transmitted by the slave unit 100 via the second communication unit 120 contains information indicating the identifier of the slave unit 100 which is the transmission source. The calculation unit 130 acquires an identifier indicating another slave unit 105 of the transmission source included in the packet from the packet received by the control unit 140 via the second communication unit 120, and calculates the transmission timing.

Here, in the present embodiment, the slave unit 100 having the identifier 1 assigned in advance is determined to be the first in the order of transmitting the packet, but the user can arbitrarily decide which identifier the slave unit 100 is the first. It may be decided (for example, the slave unit 100 having an identifier of 5 is the first).

Further, the order information 162 may include device-specific information included in the packet, such as the MAC address of each of the plurality of slave units 100, in association with each of the plurality of slave units 100. .. According to this, the identifier of the slave unit 100 can be specified even if the packet transmitted by the slave unit 100 via the second communication unit 120 does not include the information indicating the identifier of the slave unit 100.

Returning to FIG. 3, the control unit 140 included in the slave unit 100 having the identifier 2 transmits a packet between the time t1 and the time t2, which is after the time Tadv.

Further, the slave unit 100 having an identifier of 3 receives a packet containing the first data from the slave unit having an identifier of 1 (another slave unit 105) via the second communication unit 120 at time t0. In this case, the calculation unit 130 included in the slave unit 100 having the identifier 3 calculates the time t2 after the time Tadb × 2 as the transmission timing from the time t0.

Further, the control unit 140 included in the slave unit 100 having the identifier 3 transmits a packet between the time t2 and the time t3, which is after the time Tadv.

In this way, the slave unit 100 that has received the packet from the other slave unit 105 has its own device from the identifiers of the other slave unit 105 that transmitted the received packet and the own device based on the sequence information 162 and the identifier information 163. Calculates the transmission timing at which the packet is transmitted.

The time information 161 and the sequence information 162 and the identifier information 163 may be stored in the storage unit 160 in advance before the slave unit 100 is installed at a specific location, for example. Further, for example, after the slave units 100 are installed at specific locations, the control unit 140 may send time information 161, sequence information 162, and identifier information 163 transmitted from the terminal device 300 via the master unit 200. The packet including the above may be received via the first communication unit 110, and the time information 161, the order information 162, and the identifier information 163 included in the received packet may be stored in the storage unit 160.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the control unit 140 can receive the packet transmitted by the other slave unit 105 while the packet is not transmitted to the other slave unit 105 via the second communication unit 120. It is in such a state. For example, when the communication system 500 includes N slave units 100, the time Tscan in which the slave unit 100 is in a state where the packet transmitted by the other slave unit 105 can be received is the time Tadv × (time Tadv × () indicated by the time information 161. It becomes N-1).

Further, although the time when the slave unit 100 receives the packet and the time when the other slave unit 105 transmits the packet are described as the same time, it is assumed that these times are different. Therefore, the calculation unit 130 may, for example, add a predetermined constant when calculating the transmission timing. That is, the time (time Tadv) at which the slave unit 100 is permitted to transmit the packet is actually the time (time Tadv) even if the time synchronization of each of the plurality of slave units 100 is not performed (even if the received times are not the same). It can be dealt with by setting in advance a numerical value that fully considers the time required for packet transmission and the time difference between the plurality of slave units 100.

[Processing procedure]
Subsequently, the processing procedure of the slave unit 100 and the processing procedure of the communication system 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure in which the handset 100 according to the embodiment transmits data.

First, the acquisition unit 150 acquires sensor data (second data) indicating information detected by the sensor 400 connected to the own device (step S101). The step S101 may be executed at an arbitrary timing.

Next, the control unit 140 receives the packet including the sensor data (first data) transmitted from the other slave unit 105 by the slave unit 100 via the second communication unit 120 (step S102).

Next, the calculation unit 130 acquires, for example, the time information 161 and the order information 162 stored in the storage unit 160 from the storage unit 160 (step S103). In step S103, the calculation unit 130 receives, for example, a packet including the time information 161 and the order information 162 from the terminal device 300 via the master unit 200 and the first communication unit 110, so that the time information 161 and the time information 161 are received. The order information 162 may be acquired.

Next, the calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing based on the time information 161 and the order information 162 (step S104).

Next, the control unit 140 connects to the own device in step S101 and the first data included in the packet received in step S102 via the first communication unit 110 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130 in step S104. A packet including the second data acquired from the sensor 400 is transmitted to the master unit 200 (step S105). Specifically, in step S105, the control unit 140 steps through the first communication unit 110 between the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130 in step S104 and the time after the time Tadv indicated by the time information 161. The packet including the first data included in the packet received in S102 and the second data acquired from the sensor 400 in step S101 is transmitted to the master unit 200.

Next, the control unit 140 acquired the first data included in the packet received in step S102 via the first communication unit 110 and the sensor 400 in step S101 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130 in step S104. A packet containing the second data is transmitted (step S106). Specifically, in step S106, the control unit 140 steps through the second communication unit 120 between the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130 in step S104 and the time after the time Tadv indicated by the time information 161. A packet containing the second data included in the packet received in S101 is transmitted.

In step S106, the control unit 140 transmits a packet to the other slave unit 105 by broadcasting via the second communication unit 120.

Further, the order of each step shown in FIG. 4 is only an example. For example, step S101 may be executed before step S105 is executed, and may be executed after step S104, for example. Further, for example, the order in which step S105 and step S106 are executed may be reversed.

Further, in step S105, when the control unit 140 has acquired a plurality of first data from the plurality of other slave units 105, the control unit 140 may transmit a packet including all the first data to the master unit 200. Then, a packet including a part of the first data may be transmitted to the master unit 200. For example, the control unit 140 obtains the second data acquired by the acquisition unit 150 from the sensor 400 and a predetermined number of first data among the plurality of first data acquired from the plurality of other slave units 105. The included packet may be transmitted to the master unit 200. A predetermined number and selection criteria among the plurality of first data acquired from the plurality of other slave units 105 may be arbitrarily determined. For example, the control unit 140 may include up to five first data included in the packet received at a late time in the packet and transmit the packet to the master unit 200 via the first communication unit 110.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a first example of a processing procedure of each device included in the communication system 500 according to the embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the identifier indicating the slave unit 101 is 1, the identifier indicating the slave unit 102 is 2, and the identifier indicating the slave unit 103 is 3. Further, it is assumed that the order information 162 is information whose identifiers are transmitted in the order of 1, 2, 3, .... Further, the sensor data acquired by the sensor 401 connected to the slave unit 101 is used as the first sensor data, and the sensor data acquired by the sensor 402 connected to the slave unit 102 is used as the second sensor data. The sensor data acquired by the connected sensor 403 is used as the third sensor data.

Further, the broken line arrow shown in FIG. 5 indicates wireless communication via the first communication unit 110 (for example, wireless communication based on 802.11). Further, the alternate long and short dash arrow shown in FIG. 5 indicates wireless communication via the second communication unit 120 (wireless communication based on Bluetooth).

First, the slave units 101 to 104 acquire sensor data from the sensors 401 to 404 (see FIG. 1) connected to each of them (step S201). In step S201, each of the slave units 101 to 104 executes step S101 shown in FIG. In step S201, the slave unit 101 acquires the first sensor data from the sensor 401, the slave unit 102 acquires the second sensor data from the sensor 402, and the slave unit 103 acquires the third sensor data from the sensor 403.

Next, the slave unit 101 indicated by the identifier 1 transmits a packet including the first sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 401 to the master unit 200 by wireless communication (step S202).

Next, the slave unit 101 transmits a packet containing the second data to the other slave unit 105 by wireless communication (broadcast communication) based on Bluetooth (step S203).

The master unit 200 transmits, for example, the first sensor data included in the received packet to the terminal device 300 (step S204).

Next, each of the slave units 102 to 104 calculates the transmission timing (step S205). Specifically, in step S205, each slave unit 102 to 104 executes steps S103 and S104 shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

Next, the slave unit 102 indicated by the identifier 2 includes the first sensor data (first data) included in the packet received from the slave unit 101 and the second sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 402. The packet is transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication (step S206).

Next, the slave unit 102 transmits a packet containing the second data to the other slave units 101, 103, 104 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (step S207).

The master unit 200 transmits, for example, the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 by the slave unit 101 included in the received packet and the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 by the slave unit 102 to the terminal device 300 (. Step S208).

In step S208, if the master unit 200 has already succeeded in transmitting the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 by the slave unit 101 to the terminal device 300, the second sensor data acquired by the slave unit 102 from the sensor 402. Only may be transmitted to the terminal device 300, and the first sensor data may not be transmitted to the terminal device 300.

Next, the slave unit 103 indicated by the identifier 3 has a first sensor data (first data) included in the packet received from the slave unit 101 and a second sensor data (first data) included in the packet received from the slave unit 102. ), And a packet including the third sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 403 is transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication (step S209).

Next, the slave unit 103 transmits a packet including the third sensor data (second data) to the other slave units 101, 102, 104 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (step S210).

The master unit 200 is, for example, the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 by the slave unit 101 included in the received packet, the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 by the slave unit 102, and the third sensor data acquired from the sensor 403. The sensor data is transmitted to the terminal device 300 (step S211).

In step S211, the master unit 200 has succeeded in transmitting the first sensor data already acquired by the slave unit 101 from the sensor 401 and the second sensor data acquired by the slave unit 102 from the sensor 402 to the terminal device 300. If so, only the third sensor data acquired from the sensor 403 is transmitted to the terminal device 300, the first sensor data acquired by the slave unit 101 from the sensor 401, and the second sensor data acquired by the slave unit 102 from the sensor 402. Does not have to be transmitted to the terminal device 300.

As described above, the plurality of slave units 100 included in the communication system 500 calculate the transmission timing of the own device, and generate a packet including sensor data indicating information detected by the sensor 400 at a timing different from that of the other slave units 105. Send.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a second example of the processing procedure of each device included in the communication system 500 according to the embodiment.

First, the slave units 101 to 104 acquire sensor data from the sensors 401 to 404 (see FIG. 1) (step S201).

Next, the slave unit 101 indicated by the identifier 1 transmits a packet including the first sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 401 to the master unit 200 by wireless communication (step S202a). Here, for example, in step S202a, it is assumed that the packet including the second data is not received by the master unit 200.

Next, the slave unit 101 transmits a packet including the second data (first sensor data) acquired by the slave unit 101 from the sensor 401 to the other slave units 102 to 104 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (step S203a). .. Here, for example, in step S203a, it is assumed that the packet including the first sensor data acquired by the slave unit 101 from the sensor 401 is not received by the slave unit 103.

Next, the slave unit 102 calculates the transmission timing (step S205a). Specifically, in step S205a, the slave unit 102 executes steps S103 and S104 shown in FIG.

Similarly, the slave unit 104 calculates the transmission timing (step S205b). Specifically, in step S205b, the slave unit 104 executes steps S103 and S104 shown in FIG.

Here, unlike step S205 shown in FIG. 5, the slave unit 103 does not calculate the transmission timing because the slave unit 101 has not received the packet including the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 in step S203a. ..

Next, the slave unit 102 wirelessly transmits the first sensor data (first data) included in the packet received from the slave unit 101 and the second sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 402 to the master unit 200. It is transmitted by communication (step S206).

Next, the slave unit 102 transmits the second sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 402 to the other slave units 101, 103, 104 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (step S207).

For example, the master unit 200 transmits the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 by the slave unit 101 included in the received packet and the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 by the slave unit 102 to the terminal device 300 (step S208). ).

As described above, according to the communication system 500, in order to transmit the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 transmitted by the slave unit 101 to the slave unit 102 as well, for example, a child before the slave unit 102 as in step S202a. Even when the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 by the slave unit 101 transmitted to the master unit 200 does not reach the master unit 200, the slave unit 101 uses the first sensor data acquired from the sensor 401 as the parent unit. It can be sent to the machine 200.

Further, it is assumed that the slave unit 103 receives the packet including the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 by the slave unit 102 transmitted from the slave unit 102 in step S207. In this case, the slave unit 103 calculates the transmission timing (step S205c). Specifically, in step S205c, the slave unit 103 executes steps S103 and S104 shown in FIG.

Next, the slave unit 103 uses the packet including the second sensor data (first data) included in the packet received from the slave unit 102 and the third sensor data (second data) acquired from the sensor 403 as the master unit. It is transmitted to 200 by wireless communication (step S209a).

Next, the slave unit 103 transmits a packet including the second data (third sensor data) acquired from the sensor 403 to the other slave units 101, 102, 104 by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (step S210).

The master unit 200 transmits, for example, the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 by the slave unit 102 included in the received packet and the third sensor data acquired from the sensor 403 by the slave unit 103 to the terminal device 300 (. Step S211a).

In step S211a, when the master unit 200 has already succeeded in transmitting the second sensor data acquired from the sensor 402 by the slave unit 102 to the terminal device 300, the third sensor data acquired by the slave unit 103 from the sensor 403. Only may be transmitted to the terminal device 300 and the second sensor data may not be transmitted to the terminal device 300.

Further, the slave units 102 to 104 calculate the transmission timing when the packet is received from the other slave unit for the first time, but the transmission timing may be calculated each time the packet is received from the other slave unit. According to this, for example, even if the transmission timing of any one of the plurality of slave units 100 is deviated due to an unintended malfunction, the transmission timing can always be recalculated with the latest information. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the collision between the packets due to the plurality of slave units 100 transmitting the packets at the same timing.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, the slave unit 100 according to the embodiment is among the master unit 200 and the plurality of communication devices in a system including a plurality of communication devices each functioning as a slave unit that communicates with the master unit 200. It is one of the communication devices. The slave unit 100 has a first communication unit 110 for wireless communication with the master unit 200, a second communication unit 120 for wireless communication with another communication device 105 based on Bluetooth, and a second communication unit 120 from the other communication device 105. 2. When a packet containing the first data is received via the communication unit 120, the calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing at which the own device transmits the packet based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received. It includes a control unit 140 that transmits a packet containing the first data and the second data via the first communication unit 110 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130. The second data is, for example, sensor data acquired from the sensor 400 by the acquisition unit 150.

According to such a configuration, the transmission timing at which the own device transmits the packet is calculated and transmitted from the time when the packet based on Bluetooth transmitted by the other communication device 105 is received. Therefore, for example, by setting the transmission timings calculated by the plurality of slave units 100 to be different, each of the plurality of slave units 100 transmits packets at different timings. This makes it possible to suppress packet collisions in wireless communication based on Bluetooth. For example, according to such a configuration, when each of the master unit 200 and the plurality of slave units 100 transmits a packet in wireless communication based on Bluetooth, the collision of the packet can be suppressed.

Further, for example, the control unit 140 further transmits a packet containing the second data via the second communication unit 120 at the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130.

According to such a configuration, when each of the plurality of slave units 100 transmits a packet by wireless communication based on Bluetooth, the collision of the packet can be suppressed.

Further, for example, the slave unit 100 further includes a storage unit 160 that stores time information 161 indicating a time for permitting transmission of a packet. In this case, for example, the calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing based on the time and time information 161 when the packet containing the first data is received. Further, in this case, for example, the control unit 140 transmits a packet containing the first data and the second data within the time Tadb indicated by the time information 161 from the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit 130 via the first communication unit 110. And the packet containing the second data is transmitted via the second communication unit 120. For example, the packet containing the second data does not include data such as the first data included in the packet received from the other communication device 105.

According to such a configuration, it can be reflected in the timing of calculating the time related to each communication of the plurality of slave units 100. Therefore, the calculation unit 130 can more accurately calculate the timing for avoiding packet collision.

Further, for example, the storage unit 160 further stores order information 162 indicating the order in which the plurality of slave units 100 transmit packets. In this case, for example, the calculation unit 130 calculates the transmission timing based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received, the time information 161 and the order information 162.

According to such a configuration, it can be reflected in the transmission timing for calculating the time when each of the plurality of slave units 100 transmits the packet. Therefore, the calculation unit 130 can more accurately calculate the transmission timing for avoiding packet collision.

Further, the communication system 500 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of slave units 100.

According to such a configuration, the transmission timing at which the own device transmits the packet is calculated and transmitted from the time when the packet based on Bluetooth transmitted by the other slave unit 105 is received. Therefore, for example, by setting the transmission timings calculated by the plurality of slave units 100 to be different, each of the plurality of communication devices transmits packets at different transmission timings. This makes it possible to suppress packet collisions in wireless communication based on Bluetooth.

Further, the communication method according to the embodiment is one communication device among a plurality of communication devices in a system including a master unit 200 and a plurality of communication devices each functioning as a slave unit 100 that communicates with the master unit 200. Is the communication method executed by. The communication method according to the present embodiment is a reception step for receiving a packet containing the first data from another communication device 105 based on Bluetooth (registered trademark), and a time when the packet containing the first data is received in the reception step. A transmission in which a packet containing the first data and the second data is transmitted to the master unit 200 by wireless communication at the calculation step of calculating the transmission timing at which the own device transmits the packet based on the above and the transmission timing calculated in the calculation step. Including steps.

According to such a method, the transmission timing for transmitting the packet is calculated from the time when the packet based on Bluetooth is received and transmitted. Therefore, for example, by setting the transmission timings calculated by the plurality of communication devices (for example, the slave unit 100) that execute the communication method according to the embodiment differently, each of the plurality of communication devices can be set to be different. , Send packets at different timings. This makes it possible to suppress packet collisions in wireless communication based on Bluetooth. For example, according to such a method, when a master unit 200 and each of a plurality of communication devices each executing such a communication method transmit a packet in wireless communication based on Bluetooth, packet collision is suppressed. can.

The present invention may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute the steps included in the above communication method. Further, the present invention may be realized as a recording medium such as a CD-ROM that can be read by a computer that records the program. Further, the present invention may be realized as information, data or a signal indicating the program. The programs, information, data and signals may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

(Other embodiments)
Although the communication device and the like of the present invention have been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The present invention also includes a form obtained by subjecting a person skilled in the art to a modification of the above embodiment, and another embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the components of the above embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, it is assumed that each of the plurality of slave units 100 is connected to one sensor 400, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected to a plurality of sensors.

Further, for example, the sensor 400 is not limited to the temperature sensor. The sensor 400 is, for example, a humidity sensor for use in a warehouse or the like where humidity control needs to be performed, an infrared sensor for use in detecting the presence or absence of an article when entering or leaving a factory, or a loading sensor. A mechanical sensor for detecting the state by such a mechanical mechanism, a current sensor for use for the purpose of overcurrent protection of a power module, or an amount of liquid such as oil or gas such as air flowing in a machine tool. It can also be applied to a flow sensor or the like for detecting a state based on the above. That is, each of the plurality of slave units 100 may be connected to, for example, at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an infrared sensor, a mechanical sensor, a current sensor, and a flow rate sensor.

Further, for example, in the above embodiment, it has been described that the calculation unit 130, the control unit 140, and the acquisition unit 150 are composed of a CPU and a control program. For example, the components of the processing unit such as the calculation unit 130, the control unit 140, and the acquisition unit 150 included in the slave unit 100 may be composed of one or a plurality of electronic circuits. The one or more electronic circuits may be general-purpose circuits or dedicated circuits, respectively. The one or more electronic circuits may include, for example, a semiconductor device, an IC (Integrated Circuit), an LSI (Large Scale Integration), or the like. The IC or LSI may be integrated on one chip or may be integrated on a plurality of chips. Here, it is called IC or LSI, but the name changes depending on the degree of integration, and it may be called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Further, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) programmed after manufacturing the LSI can also be used for the same purpose.

In addition, general or specific embodiments of the present invention may be realized by a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit or a computer program. Alternatively, it may be realized by a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium such as an optical disk, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or semiconductor memory in which the computer program is stored. Further, it may be realized by any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program and a recording medium.

The communication device of the present invention can be applied to, for example, a communication system in which a plurality of communication devices communicate with each other according to a communication standard based on Bluetooth.

100, 101, 102, 103, 104 slave unit (communication device)
105 Other handset (other communication device)
110 1st communication unit 120 2nd communication unit 130 Calculation unit 140 Control unit 150 Acquisition unit 160 Storage unit 161 Time information 162 Order information 163 Identifier information 200 Master unit 300 Terminal device 400, 401, 402, 403, 404 Sensor 500 Communication system t0, t1, t2, t3 time Tadv time

Claims (6)

A communication device among the plurality of communication devices in a system including a master unit and a plurality of communication devices each functioning as a slave unit that communicates with the master unit.
The first communication unit for wireless communication with the master unit,
A second communication unit for wireless communication with other communication devices based on Bluetooth®,
When a packet containing the first data is received from the other communication device via the second communication unit, a time indicating the time when the packet containing the first data is received and the time for permitting the transmission of the packet. A calculation unit that calculates the transmission timing at which the own device transmits a packet based on the information ,
Within the time indicated by the time information from the transmission timing calculated by the calculation unit, (i) a packet containing the first data and the second data is transmitted via the first communication unit , and (ii). ) A communication device including a control unit that transmits a packet containing the second data via the second communication unit. Further, a storage unit for storing the time information is provided .
The communication device according to claim 1 . The storage unit further stores order information indicating the order in which the plurality of communication devices transmit packets.
The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the calculation unit calculates the transmission timing based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received, the time information, and the order information. A communication system including a plurality of communication devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . A communication method executed by one of the plurality of communication devices in a system including a master unit and a plurality of communication devices each functioning as a slave unit that communicates with the master unit.
A receiving step of receiving a packet containing the first data from another communication device based on Bluetooth®, and a receiving step.
A calculation step for calculating the transmission timing at which the own device transmits a packet based on the time when the packet containing the first data is received in the reception step and the time information indicating the time for permitting the transmission of the packet, and the calculation step.
Within the time indicated by the time information from the transmission timing calculated in the calculation step, (i) the packet containing the first data and the second data is transmitted to the master unit by wireless communication, and (ii) the said. A communication method including a transmission step of transmitting a packet containing the second data to the other communication device by wireless communication based on Bluetooth (registered trademark) . A program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to claim 5 .

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